Switch blade cover

Abstract

A covered leaf switch assembly includes a switch body having resilient switch blades. A molded plastic cover includes an elongated sheath for receiving the blades therein and a coupling portion for interfitting with the switch body. In one embodiment the coupling portion has a pair of arms with fingers and ribs receivable in complementary grooves and notches on the switch body. In another embodiment the coupling portion includes a jacket frictionally receiving the switch body therein.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cover for a leaf switch including a body carrying a plurality of resilient switch blades, said cover comprising: a flexible continuous sheath having an open end and a closed end and being adapted to closely receive all of the switch blades therein through said open end, and an enlarged coupling jacket connected to said sheath at said open end for releasably receiving said body therein for support solely thereby, said sheath cooperating with said body and with said coupling jacket completely to enclose the switch blades while permitting deflection of the switch blades by deflection of said sheath. 
     
     
       2. The cover of claim 1, wherein said coupling means is a jacket having one pair of parallel end walls and a pair of parallel side walls. 
     
     
       3. The cover of claim 2, wherein the switch body is provided with a fastener having an elongated shank and an enlarged head for attachment of the body to an associated support, at least one of said walls having an elongated slot therein for receiving therethrough only the shank of the fastener, the head of the fastener cooperating with the body securely to clamp said one wall thereto. 
     
     
       4. The cover of claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises spaced apart arms movable away from each other to accommodate the body therebetween, said arms being biased toward each other so that release thereof causes said arms to grasp said body. 
     
     
       5. The cover of claim 4, wherein each of said arms has a cam surface thereon engageable with the body to effect the movement of said arms away from each other. 
     
     
       6. The cover of claim 1, wherein said sheath and said coupling means are joined together in a unitary one-piece construction. 
     
     
       7. The cover of claim 1, wherein said sheath and said coupling means are formed of of electrically insulating material. 
     
     
       8. The combination comprising: a leaf switch including a body carrying a plurality of switch blades, said body having a pair of oppositely facing walls each having a groove therein, each of said walls having a short notch therein communicating with the associated groove, and a cover including a flexible continuous sheath having an open end and a closed end and being adapted to receive all of said switch blades therein through said open end for enclosing said switch blades while accommodating deflection thereof by deflection of said sheath, and two arms adjacent to said open end of said sheath spaced apart a distance about the same as the distance between said walls, each of said arms carrying an inwardly directed finger and having a rib formed on the inner surface thereof and extending substantially perpendicular to the corresponding finger, said arms being resiliently movable away from each other to accommodate said body therebetween, said arms being biased toward each other so that said fingers respectively engage in said grooves with said ribs being respectively received in said notches for interlocking said cover and said body in a mounted configuration. 
     
     
       9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said sheath and said arms are formed of electrically insulating material. 
     
     
       10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said sheath and said arms are formed together in a unitary one-piece construction. 
     
     
       11. The combination of claim 8, wherein each of said fingers has a cam surface thereon engageable with the corresponding one of said body walls for moving said arms away from each other. 
     
     
       12. The combination comprising: a leaf switch including a body carrying a plurality of switch blades, a fastener having an elongated shaft and an enlarged head and receivable through said body for attachment thereof to an associated support, a cover including a flexible continuous sheath having an open end and a closed end and being adapted to closely receive all of said switch blades therein through said open end for enclosing said switch blades while accommodating deflection thereof by deflection of said sheath, and an enlarged coupling jacket connected to said sheath at the open end thereof and dimensioned for receiving said body therein, said coupling jacket having a slot therein dimensioned for receiving therethrough only the shank of said fastener, said head of said fastener cooperating with said body for releasably clamping said coupling jacket therebetween to provide the sole support for said sheath. 
     
     
       13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said coupling jacket and said sheath are formed together in a unitary one-piece construction.